The beauty of West Baden Springs Hotel keeps us coming back. There’s no place like it!
The Madison Regatta was held over the Fourth of July weekend, and that’s where we parked ourselves for a few days.
They say timing is everything in life. I picked the right time to head out in the RV on a solo trip!
Autumn is coming. There’s a little nip in the night air. But first there’s some glorious late summer weather to enjoy.
We took a break from our usual winter hobby, which is napping, to go see some local attractions.
West Baden Springs Hotel
French Lick, Indiana
View Map
Ahhhh – West Baden. The ambiance, the atmosphere, the architecture. There’s no other place like it on earth!
We return time and again to this magnificent hotel because it’s so special. Built at the turn of the century as a mineral spring resort, it was the largest domed structure in the world for nearly a century, and still inspires awe today.
West Baden and its sister hotel, French Lick, have been lovingly restored to their original 1900’s glory. The properties are about a mile apart, with a casino in the middle, and are linked together by trolley ride, shuttle bus, and paved walkways. Folks of yesteryear came here to partake of the mineral waters, and both West Baden and French Lick still offer full spa and pampering services, as well as stunning hotel rooms and upscale dining.
West Baden Springs Hotel – FrenchLick.com
September has been miserable in the Ohio Valley – hot, dry, and dusty. It hasn’t rained in a month and temperatures have been hovering in the 90’s nonstop. We were looking for some relief and found a whole lot of cool a hundred miles north in Madison, Indiana.
Camped along the Ohio River, we got a little breeze off the water that made a wee bit of difference in the temperature. But touring around Madison was the coolest part.
Rising Sun, Indiana
View Map
Help! I’m at a casino and cant leave!
No, I don’t have a gambling problem, even though I’m staying at riverboat casino. I can’t leave because the RV door is jammed and I can’t get out.
Rising Star Casino Boat
Vevay, Indiana
View Map
I’ve continued a short distance north from Madison to Vevay, Indiana. The locals pronounce it Vee-Vee, and they can tell you’re a tourist if you say it wrong.
Madison, Indiana
View Map
I’m traveling a slice of the Ohio River Scenic Byway. In total it’s a 943 mile road designated as a scenic roadway because it follows along the length of the Ohio River. I’m only driving the southern Indiana portion, and as I’ve learned in the past “Scenic Byway“ does not always translate into “Easy Drive“ in the RV. The curvy, narrow, and sometimes rough road may not look intimidating in a car, but it’s a nail biter when your vehicle is over 12 feet tall and bit roll-y.
But hey, that’s the adventure part, right? Oh, and I’d like to apologize to all those folks driving behind me Tuesday morning that were late for work.
Madison, Indiana was my first stop on this journey. It’s a lively town filled with historic homes and buildings. There’s a rich history of riverboat trade and maritime industries here, and some of the old factory buildings are still standing.
Madison hosts a number of signature events, including the Madison Regatta where high speed hydrofoil boats race impossibly fast around the river. I’ve visited Madison many times before and they usually cater to the tourist business, but I caught the town napping mid-week in early August. Quite a few shops were unexpectedly closed. So I amused myself by walking the charming residential streets instead.
Madison has put a lot of effort into improving their waterfront and it’s a lovely stroll along a brick walkway with a great view of the new bridge. A couple of years ago the new bridge was built right alongside the rickety old iron span that had been there nearly a century. The old bridge was carefully dismantled and the new one was slid over in its place, inch by inch, on top of the existing piers. It was an engineering marvel!
I stayed at the City of Madison Campground with an excellent view of the river atop a small bluff. The campground is just a few blocks from the downtown area, an easy amble along historic streets. I don’t have any other transportation with me this trip except a bicycle. The motorcycle is a two-person job to load and unload, and Tim has headed up north for his annual GenCon geek convention. So that leaves me and the dog to find our way around on foot. Low gear and slow – just like my driving!
Newer Posts